Top-15 Richest Monarchs of the World

Calling Queen Elizabeth II as the richest royal across the globe is a passé. The list is updated by Forbes. To your much astonishment, Queen is worth $600 million that clearly puts her on eleventh position in the list of top-15 monarchs identified.

But the solace lies in her for being the world’s wealthiest female sovereign as hardly one-or-two women could only make up to the list. The top pedestal is given to the Sultan of Brunei as his royalty is worth $22 billion, which is 36 times more than the Queen’s royalty.
Below is the complete list of the top-15 royals calculated by Forbes with total worth $95 billion, wherein the proportion of Men: Women is 13:2.
1. King of Thailand: Bhumibol Adulyadej, 80 yrs ($35 bn)

The world’s longest-reigning monarch is revered as a deity. His Crown Property Bureau, through which he holds wealth, granted unprecedented access this year, revealing vast landholdings, including 3,493 acres in Bangkok. He also owns stakes in the publicly listed Siam Cement and Siam Commercial Bank. He recently increased investment in Deves Insurance in order to take it private. While the crown remains technically separate from state, the king exerts enormous influence and is thought to have given his implicit blessing to the 2006 coup that overthrew former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

2. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi, 60 yrs ($23 bn)

President of the UAE and hereditary ruler of its capital emirate, Abu Dhabi. UAE is home to one-tenth of world’s oil reserves; petrodollars-dollars are the president’s family’s original source of wealth. His real estate also is becoming more valuable, as property values rose 100% from 2005 to 2007. Sheikh Khalifa spent more than $1 billion–including $200 million on a Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim museum–on branding Abu Dhabi as a cultural center. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority recently made headlines by investing $7.5 billion in Citibank and buying New York’s Chrysler Building for $800 million.

3. King of Saudi Arabia: Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, 84 yrs ($21 bn)

Ascended to the throne August 2005; soon after, construction began on a $26 billion city named in his honor, which the government hopes will become the new economic epicenter of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is now earning approximately $1 billion a day from oil exports, helping boost the royal family’s fortune. The king is an avid horseman and breeds Arabian horses; he founded the Equestrian Club in Riyadh.

4. Sultan of Brunei: Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, 62 yrs ($20 bn)

Crowned 40 years ago after his father’s voluntary abdication, the 29th sultan of Brunei is heir to an unbroken 600-year-old Muslim dynasty and rules concurrently as its prime minister, defense minister, finance minister and head of religion. The sultan’s wealth is based on oil and gas reserves, but with oil fields set to dry up in 10 years, production has been cut. He is currently battling with brother Prince Jefri over allegedly misappropriated assets; an arrest warrant was issued for Prince Jefri this summer when he reportedly failed to appear in a U.K. court to address charges.

Ruler of Dubai, an emirate of the UAE. Sheikh Mohammed is a majority shareholder of Dubai Holding, a conglomerate with stakes in HSBC Holdings and Sony, as well as real estate holdings, including New York’s Essex House Hotel. A formidable figure in horse racing, he owns a 3,800-acre farm in Kentucky and bought Australia’s Ingham stud farm for reported $460 million. Dubai’s sovereign wealth fun recently paid $5 billion for a piece of MGM Mirage and $825 million to purchase retailer Barneys New York outright.

Heads the tiny Alpine principality. His family’s bank, LGT, its most valuable asset, is the focus of a tax scandal for allegedly helping wealthy clients hide their money. A U.S. Senate investigation claims that his brother Prince Philipp met with suspected tax dodgers in his role as LGT chairman. Other holdings include an estimated 20,000 hectares of land in Austria; several 17th-century palaces in central Vienna; RiceTec, a producer of genetically engineered rice in the U.S.; and a 400-year-old art collection.

7. Emir of Qatar: Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, 56 yrs ($2 bn)

Became ruler after deposing his father in a bloodless coup in 1995. Sheikh Hamad spearheaded the development of Qatar’s vast oil and natural gas reserves. He is currently making money from LNG commissions, with contracts with Korea, Belgium and Taiwan. The country now has the highest per-capita income in the world. A graduate of Britain’s Sandhurst Military Academy, Sheikh Hamad also oversaw the modernization of Qatar’s armed forces. Provided key start-up capital for Al Jazeera and its English sister station.

8. King of Morocco: Mohammed IV, 46 yrs ($1.5 bn)

Ascended to the throne in 1999. Wealth derives from phosphate mining, agriculture and stake in Morocco’s largest public company ONA. Morocco’s economic growth has slowed to 2% in the face of a serious drought, putting a serious dent in the royal fortune. Still, palaces reported to have an operating budget of almost $1 million a day. The king is making an effort to alleviate poverty and improve human rights. Last April, he pardoned eight Moroccan activists imprisoned for chanting anti-monarchy slogans.

9. Prince Albert II, Prince of Monaco, 50 yrs. ($1.4 bn)

Took over 700-year Grimaldi-family reign of Monaco in 2005. Inherited a fortune that includes real estate, art, antique cars, stamps and a stake in Monte Carlo’s casino, Société des Bains de Mer. An environmentalist, Prince Albert drives a hybrid car and has pushed for CO-2 reduction, but a controversial expansion of Monaco, with plans to build a new district on the sea (apparently to be erected on giant pillars), has opponents claiming the project would create an underwater desert. The eligible bachelor is reportedly sending girlfriend to French immersion classes.

10. Sultan of Oman: Qaboos Bin Said, 67 yrs ($1.1 bn)

Assumed the throne in 1970 after overthrowing his father, who had kept the prince under house arrest for six years. His fortune is up this year, thanks to an oil surplus; he is investing part of the surplus in tourism. The divorced sultan has donated millions to restore Oman’s mosques and is a classical music fan. He reportedly owns a 500-foot yacht.

11. Prince Karim Al Husseini, 71 yrs ($1 bn)

The Aga Khan is the spiritual leader of the world’s 15 million Ismaili Muslims and chairs the Aga Khan Development Network that promotes investment in Asia and Africa. He owns 900 thoroughbreds and has a stake in one of Britain’s largest horse-auction houses. No settlement yet in his divorce from his second wife, Inaara Aga Khan, though in March he hired Fiona Shackleton, who represented Paul McCartney in his divorce from Heather Mills.

12. The Queen of England: Elizabeth II, 82 yrs ($650 mn)

The oldest living monarch in British history, Elizabeth II ascended the throne at age 25 and plans to keep ruling until she’s physically unable, thwarting hopes of her son, Charles, to be king soon. Her personal fortune is based on property in England and Scotland, fine art, gems and a stamp collection built by her grandfather. Buckingham Palace and the Crown Jewels do not figure in, as they are state-owned treasures. Her penchant for Welsh corgis is overshadowed only by her love of horses.

13. Emir of Kuwait: Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah, 79 yrs ($500 mn)

The country’s longtime foreign minister was not originally in line to throne; in 2006, he was appointed by the National Assembly after the crown prince was deemed too ill to rule. Unlike royals in many Gulf states, Sheikh Sabah’s wealth is based on a stipend. He called for new elections after the resignation of Kuwaiti cabinet in March and is promoting economic reform to attract more investment, speed up privatization and ease land-ownership regulations to prepare for the post-oil era.

Rumored to be considering stepping down so that her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, can ascend the throne, which would make him the first Dutch king in more than a century. The fortune of Beatrix and her family has been hit by a declining Dutch equities market, though their real estate holdings, such as Castle Drakensteyn and land in Tavernelle, have appreciated with the overall market.

15. King of Swaziland: Mswati II, 40 yrs ($200 mn)

Sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch dissolved Parliament in June, with confusion over whether 2005 constitution even allows opposition parties elections have yet to be set. King Mswati assumed throne at age 18; his wealth derives from investments and real estate. The king spent a reported $2.5 million celebrating 40 years of country’s independence, along with his 40th birthday. His lavish lifestyle is highlighted in the documentary film Without the King.

this is a cool blog!!!!
and i wonder why people tend to be so blind that they cant even notice the most basic difference of gender!!!!!!! monkey… use your brain!!!

5.fadi dan | October 6, 2009 at 7:39 pm

wow…..nice money

6.ss | November 19, 2009 at 3:09 pm

Leave the asset and wealthy behind. Among 10 monarchies. which countries of 10 monarchies have high % of poorest people.
1.) Swaziland
2.)
3.)

7.adio adewunmi | December 27, 2009 at 9:15 pm

I once read that the Emir of Kano Norht West in Nigeria was among the top 15 richest monarchs,where is he now?

8.Nathan | January 9, 2010 at 6:47 am

Long live King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand , he is loved by all his people , my wife is Thai but i am English but i am proud to be able to have my second home there ! Beautiful country . Oh by the way SS , this is just a survey out of interest , dont make it something else , if you are trying to say the monarchs of the poor countries dont look after their people , well i must say i cannot remember the last time the queen of England gave me anything !

9.Timmy | January 25, 2010 at 8:52 pm

The queen never gave you anything because she isn’t that wealthy.
The King of Thailand though, has 35bn USD in wealth. More than enough to fund education for the poorest as well as actual stability to the poor people of Thailand.

I have been to Thailand many times, and to know the Monarch is that rich and does nothing, is disgusting as all the wealth comes from the people of Thailand.

Her Majesty’s personal fortune is based upon, Her hereditary property and ownership
rights therein as Sovereign of the Realm, including: the Crown Estates, the Royal
Palaces of Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, St James’s Palace, the Palace
of Holyrood, Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kew
Palace and Bangueting House, the Crown Jewels and Her family investments, the
Royal Art Collection and family properties including Balmoral and Sandringham.

The estimates of Her wealth are often mistakenly valued on the basis that the
Crown Estates, Royal Palaces and the Crown Jewels, are in some way inalienable
items held and not owned by the Sovereign, this is a misleading statement of
facts, (there are no such legal documents in existence to proof this view) and
as such they are owned, borne and enjoyed as hereditary possessions of the
Reigning Sovereign, thus can be viewed as personal property of the Sovereign
owned and enjoyed under their inalienable rights as Monarch of the Realm.

The value for the queen is wrong, living in London myself I can state in all honesty that the value of the royal properties (and parks) alone are worth combined considerably more than $600m, Hyde Park (the largest park) is 142 hectares in west central London – one of the most expensive areas in the world – the cost of land per hectare is £5.5m ($8.36m) – the value of the park itself is £781m (nearly $1.2b), not to mention that she’d get paid off of the tax involved in selling it.
To say that Kensington Palace itself is worth less than $600m is ridiculous, baring in mind its location – just off of Piccadilly (which is owned by the Grosvenors I believe), just about as central as you can get, I happen to know that a 1 bedroom ex-council flat (project, for you Americans) in the much less desirable location of Elephant and Castle sells for around £250,000 (I live in one), there is surely hundreds of rooms in a building of its size and given the location I’d say that even if you sold them off one by one you’d make considerably more than $600m, not to mention Windsor Castle – a gigantic castle with a history and location such as this must be worth at least a billion $, although I’d guess the value is probably double that.
I’d say that the value of the parks she owns in central London alone are worth more than most of the other monarchs in this list could stretch to, think of green park – Bushy Park – 445h, Green Park – 19h, Greenwich Park – 74h, Hyde Park – 142h, Kensington Gardens – 111h, Regents Park – 166h, Richmond Park – 955h, St James’ Park – 23h, Brompton Cemetary – 16.5h and Victoria Tower Gardens – £10,733,250,000 – nearly eleven billion POUNDS not dollars in land ownership right there $16.3 billion dollars.
Think of the value of all of the properties she owns, how much would you value the Tower of London at? Not enough money in the world my friend, given the history, the cultural importance, the size, the location, the tourist interest, the CONTENTS (ie. crown jewels, worth more in themselves than some countries make in a year), this list is horribly flawed in that it seems to only be counting liquid cash, rather than property – please bare in mind that the queen ultimately owns Bermuda and other Islands and great swaths of Canada. Wealth such as that of the other leaders is nice, but it is fleeting – the royals learnt a long time ago that property is worth more than cash. Goes back to the feudal system I guess!

“Similarly, we include the assets of Thailand’s Crown Property Bureau in King Bhumibol’s net worth, as he is a trustee. However, the Thai government disagrees and has publicly stated that the CPB’s assets are not part of the king’s personal wealth; rather, the CPB owns and manages the assets of the monarchy on behalf of the Thai people.”

And for your information, the CPB was set up over 100 years ago during the King Rama V. (The current King’s grand father).

In fact he (& other royal family members) is the only ruling class that visited the poor and introduced many programs for agriculture, health care, education, craftwork etc to uplift their life. In contrary, it is the politicians that has rotten Thailand for decades who visit the poor just before the ballot vote casting.
I am defending for the Thai King on behalf of Thai people. I was born in Thailand and over 20 years of my life always see him in the news how often he has visited the countryside.

I have to ask you that :
“Were you in Thailand 20 – 40 years ago while the King was still in a good physical strength to visited Thai people in rural area?”

I hope that you are rationale enough knowing that the Thai King aged over 80 years old and could not make a visit for the past decade or two.

S$600million is not rich enough? Having only S$1mil also can help the poor. It’s not the wealth that counts. It’s the heart that counts.

And please do not get my intention incorrectly. I did not mean to offend any rulers or states in particular. I did not mean that without visiting their own subjects is showing that the ruler is heartless. In contrary, it shows the government performance of the nation development holistically. Developed nation, monarch may have a more comfortable role as the economy (and other trades) performed well. For decades that the Thai government performance is so poor, full of corruption and money has never fully traveled down to the grassroots. That’s the reason why the Thai King has to help the poor in parallel. (Where on earth that the monarch went to the deep forest, climbing the hills to visit the forgotten people?)

Lastly, whether to be no.1 in the top 15, Thai people won’t be bothered about the list. If we really bother, The Crown Property Bureau would have declared the his wealth since he was crowned and should have ranked no.1 for over 60 years in his reign. But who cares. We love him as a revered & respectful person. Rich or poor does not matter. He is heartfully rich enough to have our heart. A role model that Thai people admire. That’s all you need to know.

14.Burapa Prommul | May 9, 2010 at 12:29 am

In addition to my comments above. If you have read this article in Forbes magazine years 2008, the article also reported that the Crown Property Beruea (CPB) did a heavy study to their asset just a few years before he is listed no.1. It also reported that the CPB’s properties in Bangkok were leased out for commercial, educational, institutional use at the rate of 1/5 of what CPB shall earn.

It shows that :

1. The King himself may not really know or bothers how much CPB owns (and he has no control on it anyway. The one who control is the Thai government)
2. The CPB is willing to absorb the big lost to ensure that the Thai economic wheel still run on the low cost for competitiveness.
3. It is the Forbes who mix and match everything to come up with the controversial list. If this method is applied to other monarches farily, I believe that many more monarches from developed nations will overtake him easily.

Was there a teacher or teachers who had a particularly strong influence on your life? Tell me about them.

16.tommer | June 30, 2010 at 11:04 am

reply 9.

He visited the poor, helped with agriculture etc etc etc……

…problem is that no matter how ใจดี he is that he has $35 Billiion and the country has big problems with many poor people etc.

Why does he not give $20 Billion to help his country, clean up the sex tourism, the pedophiles, sort out education etc etc and he would still have $15 Billion left.

ผมรักเมืองไทย แต่ get annoyed by this.

17.edd | July 23, 2010 at 6:37 pm

Thanks comment no.13am so pround of you.I ‘m myself on behaft of Thai educated people i have know idea whoever or some lowest living creature on earth or some kind of small bad cancer try to do this kinda thing.Plz stop u know what r u doin? My king have been spent all his whole life to done all the best for the country and u r just a cancer big fat ass corruption asshole virus.Plz stop what u doin do not try not pulling some people attendtion.I ‘m blame those people coz they don”t know our history and cuture but we r not all live in a box of media u try to make now it 2010 we r open plz stop try to ruin his image my king he’s a good guy and i won”t let u do it.

18.abdulwahab | August 10, 2010 at 7:16 pm

what a great world we are living in. how can i see one of this great men to help me.

19.abdulwahab | August 10, 2010 at 7:19 pm

what a great world we are living in. how can i see one of this great men to help me. iam a muslim withj family and nothing to feed on.

20.Sean | October 25, 2010 at 2:50 am

I’m from the Netherlands, and our Queen Beatrix has much more than 300 Million.
She even said that in a letter from one of our newspapers.

21.Kimi G | May 4, 2011 at 10:50 am

everything is awesome…….but I think the Queen of England is worth more than $600m……dats jst not right

22.Muhammad sani | July 19, 2011 at 3:48 pm

فسيكفيكهم الله وهوالسميع العليم.‏
I prayed to Almighty God to give the means to married,in other not to commit fonication in my life.or God, get me out of poverty so that i wil get married. فسيكفيكهم الله وهوالسميع العليم.‏
I prayed to Almighty God to give the means to married,in other not to commit fonication in my life.or God, get me out of poverty so that i wil get married.

23.chris | January 19, 2012 at 7:47 pm

it is not because you have properties and goods that you are rich , everything as a cost and the money does not all go in his pocket ( how many people has a job because of him ??? ), the thai king as proof is heart all is life to his country , look at the royal projet and all the foundation and works he has done . i feel so sorry that he does not run the gouvernement and vanish all the corrupt solder and policeman , thais are good , sharing and caring , they just need money and take it where it is . its only a matter of few people above that gets and never get enough . in eu we have to many administration and bock us in our project to avoid corruption , in thailand not so many ,,, try to understand the culture , the history and the mentality , do never juge someone for what you think you know or what you have seen. his only a men not superman . he has only to be nicely accompanied . ” let see his son now ????????????? “

This blog itself is wrong. King Bhumiphol’s wealth of $35bn is wrongly calculated. FORBES mixed the calculated from “Royal Treasuries” and King’s own wealth.

“Royal Treasuries” belongs to all Thais (A.K.A. the Government, etc.) but does NOT belong to the King. Last I know, the “Royal Treasuries” has roughly close to $30bn, thus the King himself have less than $10bn.

The King helped his people, there’s many projects supervised by him, including “fake rain”, “water damp for electricity”, “agriculture”, etc. and there’s many more. But ever since His Highness ages, he couldnt do anything much, His Highness couldnt even walk without aid from his cane, what do YOU expect him to do at this age? He still give advise and supervises various new projects from His hospital room though.

I’m an expat living for Thai for almost 10 years and I can see how much His Highness do to aid the poor. Yes, the “poor”.
I do not support any other of the Royalties, but I will not allow anyone to distort fact about this great King, King Bhumiphol.